Independence vital to heritage rail study in North East Tasmania

Community consensus is what Dorset mayor Greg Howard hopes will be the result of an independent third party assessment of a heritage rail service on the North-East rail trail corridor.

The state government and the council will jointly fund the study before a development goes ahead, with the proposed bike track causing signifcant opposition.

“There are so many figures flying about as to what it would cost to upgrade the line and the infrastrucutre and what it would cost to run a rail service,” he said.

Cr Howard said the fluctuations in valuation of the project varied from between $50,000 and $30 million and an independent report was necessary to ensure the decision was fact-based.

The proposal for an independent assessment was also supported by North-East Residents and Farmers Association chair Stuart Bryce.It’s a good idea and I think they might find that there is a lot of meat in it.- Stuart Bryce

“It’s a good idea and I think they might find that there is a lot of meat in it (heritage rail service),” he said.

But Mr Bryce said it was critical that those opposed to the bike track had input into choosing the third party who performed the assessment, not just the state government and the council.

Infrastructure Tasmania, part of the Department of State Growth, is expected to secured the third party.